By the time simmering Bill O'Brien talked to reporters, Sports Illustrated's "special report" concerning recent changes and alleged missteps in its athletic medicine department had been building steam for 18 hours plus.

So when the Boston-Irish coach with the admitted hot temper finally got the chance to really open up ... he let loose as never before at Penn State.

"Before we get started, I have some things I want to say ...

His voice crescendoed when he said, "The student-athletes in this football program are the No. 1 priority to me. Their health and safety is the No. 1 priority to me. It's not near the top. It's not around the top. It's at the top.

"And for anyone to suggest or perhaps outright accuse that anyone in Penn State's athletic program would do otherwise is irresponsible, reckless and wrong.

"We are at 67 scholarships. Do you think for one second I would jeopardize the health and safety of this team with 67 scholarship players on the team? That's preposterous."

He pretty much operated with a restrained fury throughout.

This had all come a year after Penn State hired alum and Gettysburg native Tim Bream away from the Chicago Bears to be its new head athletic trainer.

It came a few months after longtime team doctor and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, was shifted to director of athletic medicine. His football responsibilities were divided between two doctors.

It came about 10 days after Penn State learned that Sports Illustrated was working on a piece that was critical of its football medical care, focusing on Bream and new athletic director Dr. Dave Joyner and his alleged contentious relationship with Sebastianelli.

The story, released Wednesday, is featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the headline, "Do Athletics Still Have Too Much Power at Penn State?"

Talk to Frank

York Daily Record/Sunday News reporter Frank Bodani talks Penn State football with readers every Monday night.

On Tuesday night, Penn State released a series of statements to preempt a report it viewed as unfair. More information detailing how the Nittany Lions' football care compares with other universities was released Wednesday.

SI issued its own statement, standing by its work.

Then O'Brien did an interview on ESPN College Football.

Then came his time with beat reporters.

He had read the story that contends how, "changes in the university's once-exemplary medical care are raising questions about the promises to rein in the athletic department and operate transparently. ... It's part of an abrupt shift in the school's health-care program for football -- a shift that will provide less on-site coverage."

Then it finally was the first-year head coach's chance.

"What that article was to me was a character assassination on Dave Joyner. And it wasn't anything other than that."

O'Brien hit a roiling boil after one reporter's question.

"Wait a minute now, I didn't say anything about a vendetta against Dr. Joyner. I just read the article like you guys did, and I felt like Dave Joyner is a first-class individual. ... Don't put words in my mouth"

Then he paused.

"I got my son's Little League game in 15 minutes, so if I'm late to that, I might be divorced," he said, as if to break the tension a bit.

The SI story also details incidents alleging possible overreaching medical decisions made by Bream, who was a longtime and respected trainer with the Bears.

SI alleges that, "Three sources saw Bream -- who does not have a medical degree -- giving players the anti-inflammatory drug Voltaren without a prescription or a physician's approval. Two of those three also say Bream gave a player the prescription drug Bentyl for diarrhea, when the drug is actually meant to treat irritable bowel syndrome."

Sources saw Bream engaging in other procedures requiring special certification or a medical license. These include using an X-ray machine, administering an inhaler to a player who does not have asthma and lancing a boil on a player's neck."

The SI story goes on to say, "The practice of NCAA athletic trainers' dispensing prescription drugs is not uncommon ... Nevertheless, it is contrary to the NCAA and National Athletic Trainers' Associations guidelines and to state and federal laws."

Penn State athletic director David Joyner, an orthopedic surgeon and former member of the board of trustees, is at the center of a new Sports Illustrated article about controversy over Penn State's medical care. (Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)

Bream did not return a text message seeking comment.

"Questions and rumors about the head athletic trainer were investigated by an outside law firm in January," according to a university statement. "The trainer and supervisory physicians were interviewed. The legal team's report concluded there was no credible or substantial evidence to support the allegations or rumors, and there was no wrongdoing or violation of any professional standards."

On Wednesday morning, a few members of the Penn State football team issued their support of Bream via Twitter.

"Tim Bream is one of the best athletic trainers in college football I feel safer than ever as a player with him on our sideline," tweeted senior offensive lineman Eric Shrive.

"Tim Bream is a professional and has never done anything outside his limitations. He is the BEST. And is a crucial part of our family," tweeted senior linebacker Glenn Carson.

In a prepared statement, Joyner said, "Any changes that were made were done for, and only for, the benefit of the student-athletes, the football program, and for Penn State. Any characterization otherwise is appalling, offensive, preposterous and completely untrue."

Jeff Nelson, head of the university's sports information department, said Penn State reached out to other institutions this past winter to compare its football care. An email sent Wednesday shows that Penn State's current operation is similar to at least half of the Big Ten, if not more.

"The article fundamentally distorts the facts," according to a university statement. "There has been no change in the model of medical care for our student athletes. The allegations on why the change in team physician was made is ludicrous." @YDRPennState; 771-2104

5 p.m. Wednesday update

Penn State Issues Further Statements on Sports Illustrated article:

"The article fundamentally distorts the facts. There has been no change in the model of medical care for our student athletes. The allegations on why the change in team physician was made is ludicrous. Worst of all, the article ignores the fact that Dr. Sebastianelli remains the doctor in charge of the University's entire medical program for intercollegiate athletics, including football. In addition, the university athletic trainer reported directly to Dr. Sebastianelli, who supervised the trainer's work. A review shows Penn State's medical coverage is on par with, or exceeds, peer institutions."

Dr. Harold Paz, senior vice president for Health Affairs, Chief Executive Officer, Penn State Hershey Medical Center and dean of the College of Medicine:

"The article suggests that the quality of care provided to Penn State student athletes has been jeopardized by a change in team physicians. It simply isn't the case. Drs. Seidenberg and Lynch, the physicians now responsible for the day-to-day care of Penn State football players are both experienced clinicians, fellowship-trained in Sports Medicine and committed to providing expert medical care to our students athletes. Any suggestion that care is being compromised by the change in physician assignments is both unsubstantiated and incorrect. The article further suggests that Dr. Sebastianelli is no longer playing a role in supporting the University's athletic teams. In fact, as Director of Athletic Medicine, Dr. Sebastianelli remains the doctor in charge of the University's entire medical program for intercollegiate athletics."

Dave Joyner, Director of Athletics:

"As athletic director for Penn State my first priority is the welfare of our student-athletes. All decisions are, and have been, made with that first and foremost as the goal. Any changes that were made were done for, and only for, the benefit of the student-athletes, the football program, and for Penn State. Any characterization otherwise is appalling, offensive, preposterous and completely untrue. Change is never easy, but that won't prevent us from doing the right thing for our student-athletes."

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